Toronto Raptors Roundtable: Impressions from the early season

What has been the reason for the bench’s struggles so far this season?

Thomas Valentine:

I think the amount of cumulative time that each member of the bench has missed is beginning to add up chemistry wise. I think (hopefully) it’s just down to time, and not having that ebb and flow of playing with each other night in, night out yet. It’ll come.

Koby Palimaka:

Injuries and a lack of shot-making.

It seems like the ‘bench mob’ has had at least one member missing every game, whether its Delon Wright at the start of the year, Norman Powell or even simply missing a game here or there for Fred VanVleet the team has been incomplete and it’s clearly taken a toll.

Adding to that is the fact that the shots just aren’t falling for the players. This season has been a down year for FVV and it’s shown on the scoreboard, he’s still doing everything right the shots just aren’t falling although, recently he has been looking better.

Brian Boake:

Jakob Poeltl is in San Antonio, and Siakam is starting.  Those two were essential components of the Bench Mob, and they aren’t doing those jobs anymore.  Can we get Jak back?  Between poor shooting and injuries, C.J. Miles hasn’t been helpful.

Mike Bossetti:

A lack of continuity and a lack of playmaking.

The bench was revamped this season with Jakob Poeltl and Pascal Siakam no longer a part of the main rotation. Combine that with the insane amount of injuries Toronto has suffered, and it’s been tough for the bench to find a rhythm.

With Pascal and Poeltl gone, the Raptors are also missing a good amount of playmaking from last team’s squad. Fred VanVleet and Delon Wright both play best as offensive shooting guards, and without point Pascal running the mob, the ball tends to get stagnant.